Crimson Bound

This lush and dark reimagining of "Little Red Riding Hood" is vibrantly enhanced by Elizabeth Knowelden's expert narration. With deliberation and a somber tone, she embodies Rachelle's struggle to resist becoming like the very monsters she fights in a magical medieval France. Marked by a Forest Born and then forced to murder someone she loved, Rachelle struggles to maintain her morality even while she's aware of the lengths she'll go to survive. Knowelden teases out the nuances of her emotions as she maintains the flat, even tones of the stern facade Rachelle presents to the court. Fairy-tale fans will be thoroughly entranced by the twisted path Rachelle must take to save humanity. J.M. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine

Starred review from March 1, 2015

Gr 8 Up-With this romantic mash-up of classic fairy tales that touch on elements from the familiar "Little Red Riding Hood" and the lesser-known "Girl with No Hands," Hodge has created a chilled cocktail of creep and gore shaken, stirred lightly, and poured over villains who fall in love and heroines who commit murder. Featured in this delicate and skillfully written romantic horror is Rachelle Brinon, who has been trained by her aunt to serve as a woodwife. It's her responsibility to protect the village from the dark magic of the forest. While venturing into the forest, Rachelle is eventually tricked by a humanlike wolf creature, to whom she becomes bound to it by a thin crimson thread that only she can see. The connection is filled with passion and also gives her superhuman skills with the possibility of immortality. Now one of the king's assassins, Rachelle has many responsibilities and soon realizes that there are just as many dangers and threats within the kingdom as they are without. Loyalties are stretched when she's assigned the job of protecting Prince Armand, and a romantic triangle develops among Rachelle, the prince, and the captain of the bloodbounds. Teens will gladly join this quest to find out if there's a happy ever after in this intricate web of friendship, fear, loyalty, love, and hate. VERDICT With a thoroughly developed setting and so many shadowed nods to the Brothers Grimm, this novel will captivate readers. Outstanding.-Sabrina Carnesi, Crittenden Middle School, Newport News, VA

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2015
A high fantasy loosely based on "Little Red Riding Hood" and the less well-known "The Girl with No Hands."Hoping to save the world, 15-year-old Rachelle defiantly leaves the safe forest path to speak with a forestborn-one of those humans who gained supernatural powers by accepting the Devourer as their lord. The forestborn marks Rachelle: In three days' time she must either kill and become a bloodbound-destined to become a forestborn-or be killed. Rachelle kills, and the story of the killing is revealed as she grapples with debilitating guilt. Three years later, Rachelle is one of the king's bloodbound. When she discovers the Devourer will soon return, she redoubles her efforts to find the sword that can defeat him. However, orders to protect the king's illegitimate son, Armand, impede her search. Predictably, Rachelle falls in love with Armand, causing a love triangle to form between the pair and the rakish Erec, captain of the king's bloodbound. Though Armand is likable enough, Rachelle's love feels sudden and unfounded, and thus it's never entirely convincing. A fairy tale that's critical to understanding Rachelle's ultimate task is interspersed throughout, and in a refreshing departure from the norm, the complexity of the conclusion matches the magnitude of the foe faced. Rachelle's flaws make her an incredibly sympathetic character; though her romance is not so compelling, the unusual, intricately woven story and themes make for a worthwhile read. (Fantasy. 14 & up)